1
as in theme
a major object of interest or concern (as in a discussion or artistic composition)
the motif of mute figures standing in lonely isolation is a recurrent one in the artist's works
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of motif
Recent menus have leaned into storytelling, with cocktails arriving under glass cloches or designed around surrealist motifs—drinks that edge towards performance over mere refreshment.
—
Lauren Mowery, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Wallot designed a highly ornate building, drawing on classical motifs.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 9 Sep. 2025
For her performance about an hour later, Gaga returned on video from MSG and in the middle of the red and black motif that signals the opening of her Mayhem Ball tour.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
Vikings rarely used human motifs, choosing instead to stick to animal imagery in their artwork, the museum said.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for motif
Lauren Mowery, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Wallot designed a highly ornate building, drawing on classical motifs.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 9 Sep. 2025
For her performance about an hour later, Gaga returned on video from MSG and in the middle of the red and black motif that signals the opening of her Mayhem Ball tour.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
Vikings rarely used human motifs, choosing instead to stick to animal imagery in their artwork, the museum said.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for motif
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motif
Noun
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The soap's sensual marketing theme earned mixed reactions on social media, with some users dubbing it a gimmick and questioning the item's cleanliness.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
13 Sep. 2025
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The dialogue will explore her career milestones and the philosophies that have shaped her artistry, including the practice of detachment, a theme both Jones and Akil connect to through lessons learned from Oprah Winfrey.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
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College Is No Longer The Only Path In 2025, college remains valuable for students who choose high-ROI majors, limit debt exposure, and treat school as a launchpad rather than a holding pattern.—
Sarah Hernholm,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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Historical patterns often show the president's party losing ground in midterms under similar conditions.—
Anna Commander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
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These two energies seduced me to find womxn who, through their artistic work, were open to rebellious acts such as publishing art books on essential topics.—
Caterina De Biasio,
Vogue,
11 Sep. 2025
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Support journalism that digs deeper into topics that matter most to Arkansans.—
Eric E. Harrison,
Arkansas Online,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Thanks to cross-generational compatibility and modular design, many components—such as controllers and DFMs—can be refurbished and redeployed within the Pure Storage product ecosystem.—
Thomas Coughlin,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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The sneakers feature Altra’s signature FootShape design, which splays at the front to give your toes ample space for natural movement.—
Olivia Young,
Travel + Leisure,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
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These matters concerning candidate quality are nothing new.—
Kimberly Ross,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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The executives were able to meet with Pope Leo in a private audience that included others, according to a person familiar with the matter.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The question isn’t only for the Emmys.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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At the plaza, Seth Teasdale was nearby as Kirk flung some caps into the crowd, then settled into his seat under the canopy to take questions.—
Rick Jervis,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Motif.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motif. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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